Jawbone doesn’t do simple upgrades. The gadget maker made a splash with its Jawbone wireless speaker back in 2010 — it was small, relatively inexpensive at $199, and best of all it sounded great for its size. Last year it unveiled the Big Jambox, a larger speaker that offered better quality sound for the discerning listener.

Where most companies would be quick to release a sequel to a popular gadget, Jawbone let the Jambox sit in the market for three years without touching the hardware. Finally, we have its successor.

Today the company is unveiling the Mini Jambox ($179), a lighter and thinner wireless speaker that makes its elder sibling seem downright chunky. It’s built out of a single aluminum frame, sports 10 hours of battery life, and most importantly, it’s shockingly thin at just 24.5 millimeters wide (nearly half as thick as the original).

Jawbone sparked the popularity of the wireless speaker market with the original Jambox, and now there are dozens of competitors — from established companies like Logitech, to tiny startups — all claiming something superior to the Jambox. But rather than compete head-on with the competition when it comes to things like specs and loudness, Jawbone instead decided to focus on a new problem: Making a wireless speaker that’s small enough to take everywhere, without even thinking about it.

“We believe that how a product fits into someone’s life is as important as how it works,” said Travis Bogard, Jawbone’s vice president of product management and strategy, in an interview with VentureBeat last week. The company wasn’t just content to release a slightly better Jambox — it wanted a product that would be fundamentally different.

That may just sound like marketing fluff, but after using the Mini Jambox over the weekend, I can see why Jawbone believes it’s doing something entirely new. The Mini Jambox looks similar to the original side-by-side, but it offers a much more refined experience. It weighs a third less than the original, which means you won’t hesitate to slip it in your bag or pocket, and its solid metal construction feels completely unlike any wireless speaker I’ve used so far.

And even though the Mini Jambox is significantly slimmer than the original, it sounds just as good. I threw a wide variety of genres at the speaker, and it consistently surprised me (you wouldn’t think something this size could produce thumping bass, but you’d be surprised). You’d never mistake the Mini Jambox for a decent set of stereo speakers, but for something this portable its sound quality is impressive.

“It’s more than just that exterior being a beautiful canvas, it’s also become the perfect rigid cavity for the acoustics — literally the skin and skeleton are one and the same,” Bogard said, explaining how the company was able to get big sound out of such a tiny box.

Since it weighs around the size of a typical paperback, I often forgot I had it stowed within my messenger bag. And it often came in handy when I least expected it to — like an impromptu conference call with a group of co-workers, or during a picnic with friends. It also came in handy when I wanted to watch some video clips on my iPad.

As great as the Mini Jambox is, it remains to be seen if the company’s vision of making portable speakers as essential as our smartphones will come true. Mini Jambox is available for pre-order today on Jawbone’s site, a release date hasn’t been announced yet. Jawbone will keep the original Jambox around at a lower price of $149, while the Big Jambox remains at $299.

Jawbone is also releasing a new Jambox app for the iPhone and Android that lets you control the speaker’s settings, as well as serve as a hub for all of your playlists. On the iPhone, the Jawbone app can combine your Spotify, Rdio, and local music playlists on a single screen (something I haven’t seen before in any music app). The unified playlist feature will eventually make its way to Android.

While Jawbone seems to have been distracted by its Up fitness band over the past year (including a disastrous initial launch where it had to offer refunds to all of its customers), its nice to see the company is still able to innovate in the audio world. Though at this point, I’m not sure where else it can take the Jambox line (perhaps a slightly thinner, but still full-sounding Big Jambox successor?).

San Francisco-based Jawbone has raised more than $226 million from investors including Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, Andreessen Horowitz, Khosla Ventures, and Sequoia Capital.

Jambox wireless speaker creator Jawbone is singing the blues today. It alerted users early this morning to a hack on its MyTalk network that left the actual names (not to be confused with usernames), email addresses, and encrypted passwords compromised.

The MyTalk network is where people can update their software, find and download apps for Jawbone’s device, and customize their device’s voice and language settings. Those products include Jawbone’s Jambox speakers and headsets. One customer, Dave Zatz, posted the message he received from Jawbone on Twitter. It reads, in part: “Based on our investigation to date, we do not believe there has been any unauthorized use of login information or unauthorized access to information in your account.”

It continues to say that the password has been “disabled” and you can reset the password by visiting the user reset page and completing emailed instructions.

Of course, if you use that password on any other websites, you should change it immediately. One of the first things a cyber-criminal will do with your password is try it on other websites. And though Jawbone says that because your password was taken was encrypted and none of “the actual letters and numbers in your password” were revealed, hackers have ways to decrypt information.

As The Verge notes, however, it doesn’t seem this hack affected all Jawbone customers. According to a statement provided to the Verge, Jawbone says that the attack was “identified within hours” and subsequently blocked.

]]>0Broken Jawbone: Hackers steal email and passwords from usersHoliday Gift Guide: the best gadgets under $200http://venturebeat.com/2012/12/07/holiday-gift-guide-the-best-gadgets-under-200/
http://venturebeat.com/2012/12/07/holiday-gift-guide-the-best-gadgets-under-200/#commentsFri, 07 Dec 2012 16:00:51 +0000http://venturebeat.com/?p=581502Gift buying is often time consuming and expensive -- but it doesn't have to be. Let this gift guide show you the way.
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The sad reality of the technology world is that many of the best gadgets are also really expensive. Tablets, smartphones, game consoles — the high end of the gadget world is dominated by some really awesome devices that come with equally scary prices. And this makes them awful as gifts. (Though, admittedly, we have a gift guide for tablets as well.)

The cure, then, is clear: Go cheaper. Plenty of devices on the lower end of the price spectrum do some pretty impressive things, and the gadgets you’ll find below are some of our favorites.

For the failed home gardener: Koubachi Wi-Fi plant sensor

Some people are really good at taking care of plants. For everyone else, there’s the Koubachi Wi-Fi plant sensor. Once placed in the soil of a plant, the sensor gives forgetful botanists the low down on all the plant’s vitals, including moisture levels, light intensity, and temperature. All this information is fed to the Koubachi app, which lets you see how your plants are doing — even when you’re out of the country. Something tells me the house plant mortality rate is about to drop precipitously. $100.

For the kids: Furby

With every holiday season comes that one toy parents scratch each other’s eyes out over in toy stores, and this year it’s the Furby. Furbies have always sat on the divide between cute and creepy, but the latest revision is something else: super high-tech. Along with the toy, Mattel has created an iOS app that kids can use to both feed Furby and figure out what the heck the thing is talking about. $80

For the writer: Moleskine’s Evernote Smart Notebook

Being a writer is tough nowadays: Do you stick to paper or fully embrace the promise of the cloud? The Moleskine Evernote Smart Notebook turns that conundrum into a compromise: Not only can it be used as a regular old notebook, but the included smart stickers let you upload your notes (and automatically tag them) simply by photographing them. Comes with two free months of Evernote Premium. $30

For the eco nut: Square water bottle

There are about as many water bottles on the market are there are drops of water in the ocean — but the Square is different. Solving one of the central problems with water bottle sanitation, the Square opens at both ends, allowing owners to clean it with unparalelled ease. The best part? It won’t roll away if you drop it. $45.

For the bibliophile: Kindle Paperwhite

With the Kindle Paperwhite, Amazon has once again improved on a fairly spotless formula: Create a well-designed device and attach it to a seemingly infinite ecosystem of content, and you have a device that’s pretty tough for the average book lover to pass up. And by giving its latest eReader a backlight, Amazon has made the whole package that much more compelling. $120

For the music lover: Jambox

There are a lot of Bluetooth speakers out there, but none rise to the level of elegance of the Jambox. Deceptively small, the Jambox blows out some pretty powerful sound for a device that’s just 1.6 pounds. Oh, and it comes in four colors. $130.

For the fitness fanatic: Jawbone Up

If personal sensors are the future, let’s hope that future looks a lot like the Jawbone Up. More than a fitness tracker, the Up is capable of tracking your whole life: hours slept, calories burned, distance traveled — everything falls within the Up’s purview, which makes the device not only comprehensive, but wicked smart, too. The Up’s insight engine means that the device can also learn things about how its wearer lives and help that individual develop new habits — in theory, anyway. (To get a sense of how well it works, check out our review.) $130

For the cable cutter: Mohu Leaf

For anyone whose severed their relationship with their local cable provider, devices like the Mohu Leaf are a godsend. The super thin HDTV antenna gives owners clear access to local over-the-air programming, which, for a lot of people, is all the television they need. $40

For the hardware hacker: iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit

The gadget teardown wizkids at iFixit are good at what they do, and with the iFixIt Pro Tech Toolkit, a lot of other people can be too. The kit gives you access to a wide range of indispensable tools, including openers, tweezers, a spudger, and 54 screw driver bits. For anyone who’s always wanted to crack open their electronics, there’s probably no better gift than this. $60

]]>0Holiday Gift Guide: the best gadgets under $200Jawbone’s Big Jambox may be the only speaker you’ll ever need (review)http://venturebeat.com/2012/04/30/jawbone-big-jambox-review/
http://venturebeat.com/2012/04/30/jawbone-big-jambox-review/#commentsTue, 01 May 2012 04:01:41 +0000http://venturebeat.com/?p=424129It’s big. It’s boxy. And it can power tunes cordlessly for 15 hours. Jawbone unveiled the Big Jambox today, a large wireless speaker that improves upon its popular and smaller older sibling in practically every way. With the Big Jambox, Jawbone continues to cement itself as an innovator in the oft-forgotten realm of audio devices, […]
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It’s big. It’s boxy. And it can power tunes cordlessly for 15 hours.

Jawbone unveiled the Big Jambox today, a large wireless speaker that improves upon its popular and smaller older sibling in practically every way. With the Big Jambox, Jawbone continues to cement itself as an innovator in the oft-forgotten realm of audio devices, and it has crafted a device that’s even more useful than the original Jambox.

It’s funny how much companies can change in the span of a year. In 2010, Jawbone was only known for its Bluetooth headsets, but it changed things up last year with the Jambox wireless speaker — which quickly turned into a runaway success — and the Up fitness wristband. Unfortunately, a widespread defect forced Jawbone to offer full refunds for the Up shortly after it launched (sales still haven’t resumed), but that’s not slowing the company down.

I had a chance to jam out with the $299 Big Jambox over the weekend. And after testing it with plenty of tunes from Air, Gorillaz, Screaming Females, and a plethora of bombastic movie scores, I think it’s safe to call it another potential hit for Jawbone.

The Big Jambox sounds so good that it could end up being the only speaker many consumers need for music and movies. And since it’s portable — weighing in at 2.7 pounds with a built-in battery that lasts for up to 15 hours of music playback — it’s also one of the most useful speakers on the market.

(Of course, the Big Jambox doesn’t fully replace the need for a real home theater system, or a fancy bookshelf setup for music. But it’s ideal for consumers who don’t want to deal with the complicated setup and exorbitant expense of other solutions.)

The Good: Great sound, looks, and utility

While the original Jambox did a fine job of filling a small room with sound, its diminutive stature limited its capabilities in large living rooms and outdoors. You can have a cute dorm room jam session with the original Jambox, but with the Big Jambox, you can hold a party that will truly annoy your neighbors.

At first glance, the Big Jambox merely looks like Jawbone’s first speaker made larger. It has the same boxy Yves Behar design and steel mesh grill. But under the hood, things are dramatically different. The Big Jambox sports two active neodymium drivers and two bass radiators (in the front and rear). The device’s enclosure is also entirely sealed, which increases power and volume efficiency.

The Big Jambox also sports a decent amount of computing power, which drives a multiband compression feature that removes distortion, and a loudness compensation algorithm. All of this means that you can play the Big Jambox at high volumes without any distortion — something that even more expensive speaker setups can’t offer.

Just like the first Jambox, the new version can play audio from any Bluetooth-enabled device with a range of 33 feet. Of course, there’s also a 3.5 millimeter line input for non-wireless devices. The Big Jambox also adds some very useful on-board buttons, including a dedicated Bluetooth pairing button, as well as buttons for controlling music playback. And after countless reports of the original Jambox dancing itself off of tables, Jawbone has wisely decided to add rubber feet to the Big Jambox.

Unlike the original, this Jambox can support multiple Bluetooth devices as once, so you and your friends can all take turns DJing at parties.

I threw practically every musical genre at the Big Jambox and still came away impressed. It excelled at mid- and high-range notes, which made it ideal for Air’s unique soundscape and most electronic music. The Big Jambox had some trouble with extremely low-frequency notes, which are typically handled by external subwoofers, but it was nothing deal-breaking.

LiveAudio, Jawbone’s 3D audio technology, comes pre-installed on the Big Jambox, and it does a surprisingly great job of making audio sound more expansive. The software emulates left- and right-channel separation, so music that takes advantage of stereo positioning sounds especially good. I tested out LiveAudio on the original Jambox, but the Big Jambox can do a lot more with the technology thanks to its larger size.

The device is also well-suited for movies and TV — at least, if you’re not willing to set up a decent surround sound system. Unsurprisingly, the Big Jambox pumped out sound richer and louder than the built-in speakers in my plasma TV. Sound quality in HDTVs has actually gotten worse as sets have become thinner, so practically any external speaker setup would be an improvement.

Jawbone also touts Big Jambox’s “Type-1″ speakerphone compliancy, which means it passes a certain baseline of quality for enterprise use. I still use the original Jambox as a speakerphone today, and the Big Jambox improves upon it by allowing for group conference calls. Its omnidirectional microphone is positioned on top of the speaker, which makes it perfect for placing in the center of a table for group calls.

While the Big Jambox sounds great, its best feature is the ability to continue sounding great pretty much anywhere. Unlike traditional speakers that rarely ever move, the Big Jambox’s large battery and light weight makes it the perfect speaker for any room. It can move with you from the living room, to the kitchen, and even outdoors, without being chained down by wires.

The Bad: No Airplay, Wi-Fi, price may be tough to stomach

Above: The original Jambox atop the Big Jambox

For some reason, consumers always seem to skimp on audio technology. Far too many people live with the iPod’s crummy white headphones, and only certain audiophiles (like this writer) will invest in a killer home theater setup. At $299, the Big Jambox may be too expensive for the typical consumer, though I’d wager that once they see how useful it can be, they won’t mind the cost.

Jawbone is also holding steady with the original Jambox’s $199 price, which means the Big Jambox is a pretty great deal considering how much better it sounds for $100 more.

It’s also surprising that Jawbone didn’t upgrade the device with Airplay (for potentially better sound quality from iOS devices) and Wi-Fi functionality, though I honestly didn’t miss either since Bluetooth worked well enough. Both of those technologies also could have cut into the Big Jambox’s playback time — Bluetooth was always designed as something for low-power devices.

The Lowdown: A surprisingly killer wireless speaker

I’ve been testing out several wireless audio products over the last few weeks, and the Big Jambox ranks among the leaders. It’s gorgeously designed, sounds fantastic, and is one of the most useful devices I’ve reviewed.

Unfortunately, I haven’t had a chance to test out the Sonos Play:3, which is the Big Jambox’s direct competitor at $299. But the Big Jambox stood up well against my Audioengine 2 computer speakers, as well as my home theater setup (a Harmon Kardon receiver with Onkyo speakers + sub). That alone tells me that Jawbone has crafted something special.

The Big Jambox will be available on May 15 for $299, with pre-orders starting today.

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]]>0Jawbone’s Big Jambox may be the only speaker you’ll ever need (review)Jawbone introduces LiveAudio to deliver 3D audio to Jambox speakershttp://venturebeat.com/2011/08/23/jawbone-introduce-liveaudio-update-for-jambox-speakers/
http://venturebeat.com/2011/08/23/jawbone-introduce-liveaudio-update-for-jambox-speakers/#commentsWed, 24 Aug 2011 05:55:38 +0000http://venturebeat.com/?p=323628Jawbone has announced an update called LiveAudio, a new spatial 3D sound technology, for its Jambox Bluetooth speaker. Most of the time, we wouldn’t care about a new speaker. But Jawbone has a gift for making innovative audio technology, as evidenced by its Jawbone line of cell phone headsets. The Jambox speaker is a platform […]
]]>Jawbone has announced an update called LiveAudio, a new spatial 3D sound technology, for its Jambox Bluetooth speaker.

Most of the time, we wouldn’t care about a new speaker. But Jawbone has a gift for making innovative audio technology, as evidenced by its Jawbone line of cell phone headsets. The Jambox speaker is a platform which can be updated via software for innovations such as LiveAudio.

LiveAudio is available as a free update via MyTALKjawbone.com, which allows you to change the settings on your Jambox speaker or Jawbone headsets and download new features. Live Audio delivers enhanced acoustics and spatial detail — which means that the sound is directional. You can hear sounds coming from different directions, like hearing somebody’s footsteps as they move through a room.

Previously, this kind of 3D audio experience required playback through headphones, said Travis Bogard, vice president of product management and strategy at San Francisco-based Jawbone. Jambox can play music on an iPad, a laptop, or iPhone via a Bluetooth connection.LiveAudio uses advanced crosstalk cancellation filters that reproduce the “binaural” (meaning signals meant for both ears) audio’s hidden dimensions and then deliver them to the listener’s ears in the right way.

]]>0Jawbone introduces LiveAudio to deliver 3D audio to Jambox speakersJawbone lands $70M for sexy wireless headsets and speakershttp://venturebeat.com/2011/07/12/jawbone-70m-funding/
http://venturebeat.com/2011/07/12/jawbone-70m-funding/#commentsWed, 13 Jul 2011 00:27:20 +0000http://venturebeat.com/?p=308839Wireless headset and device maker Jawbone announced today that it has scored an additional $70 million from J.P. Morgan Asset Management. The news comes only a few months after Jawbone brought in a hefty $49 million in funding, and it underscores just how much Jawbone is now resonating with investors and consumers. Particularly intriguing is […]
]]>Wireless headset and device maker Jawbone announced today that it has scored an additional $70 million from J.P. Morgan Asset Management.

The news comes only a few months after Jawbone brought in a hefty $49 million in funding, and it underscores just how much Jawbone is now resonating with investors and consumers. Particularly intriguing is that the company, formerly known as Aliph, is sparking funding interest now, since the first Jawbone devices were released way back in 2006.

The company says the new funding will help to fuel its growth and expand to new markets and device categories.

In addition to stylish wireless headsets, Jawbone recently released the Jambox wireless speaker/speakerphone. Additionally, the company has also taken its traditional headset design in an interesting direction with the Jawbone era, which VentureBeat’s Dean Takahashi described as a motion-sensitive computer, and it has launched an app ecosystem for new Jawbone devices.

As Takahashi explained it, Jawbone billed its headset as sounding even better than listening directly to a phone. The better sound came from having three microphones built into the device. It also had a sensor that felt the movement of your jawbone and correlated that with your speech. Digital signal processing took the data, stripped out the noise, and then reproduced the sound. The noise was stripped out even when the user wasn’t talking. Jawbone said the speech turned out more intelligible, letting you hear the difference between a “p” sound and a “b” sound.

San Francisco-based Jawbone has raised a total of $170 million so far. Other investors include Andreeson Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, Khosla Ventures and well-known angel investors.

Jawbone, the maker of smart wireless headsets, said today it has raised $49 million from venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz.

The amount is one of the biggest raised by a mobile hardware company, but San Francisco-based Jawbone has always been ambitious. You could say that “over-engineering” a headset has gotten Jawbone pretty far.

The company makes wireless Bluetooth headsets for cell phones, but its latest devices are more like motion-sensitive computers that you wear in your ear. The funding means that the company isn’t yet done beefing up the ordinary headset into something cool. As you can tell from the image below, Jawbone is selling a “mobile lifestyle” to discerning consumers.

The company (formerly Aliph) has launched several generations of its smart Bluetooth headsets and has pretty much turned the latest Jawbone Era device into a connected app platform whose features can be updated over time. It also provides caller identification by verbally telling you the name of who is calling you. To date, the company has raised $100 million.

Founded in 1999 by Alexander Asseily and Hosain Rahman, the company used advanced noise cancellation technology as the defining feature for its first headset launched in 2006. Touting “military grade” voice clarity, it sold the device at the hefty price of $120 when competing products sold for $40.

Jawbone billed its headset as sounding even better than listening directly to a phone. The better sound came from having three microphones built into the device. It also had a sensor that felt the movement of your jawbone and correlated that with your speech. Digital signal processing took the data, stripped out the noise, and then reproduced the sound. The noise was stripped out even when the user wasn’t talking. Jawbone said the speech turned out more intelligible, letting you hear the difference between a “p” sound and a “b” sound.

The company followed up with a smaller version in 2008. The third-generation headset, the Jawbone Prime, arrived in April, 2009, and the fourth-generation Icon (pictured above) model debuted in January 2010 with a web site where you could customize the device. The most recent version was the Jawbone Era with motion-sensing controls, multiple processors, and a free voice communication service.

All of these models have relied on a noise-cancellation technology dubbed Noise Assassin. And the Jawbone models became the best-selling Bluetooth headsets at retailers such as Verizon Wireless and Best Buy. The company’s surveys showed four out of five people preferred using Jawbone with a phone over using only a cellphone itself.

Jawbone said the money will be used to help it expand worldwide and keep coming up with new products, including new categories of products where it doesn’t participate now. The Jawbone Jambox wireless speaker is an example of the company’s move into a new but related category, as is its Jawbone Thoughts voice-driven communication service.

Ben Horowitz, general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, will take a seat on Jawbone’s board. He said Jawbone’s products bring smartphones and tablets to life and that chief executive Hosain Rahman is the thought leader in the industry.

Rahman said the future of consumer tech is about “unlocking the full potential of the mobile lifestyle.” He added, “Now that mobile is our new hub, our vision is to create ways for people to get the most out of those experiences.”